Big Ben and Pitt Get Real Test as NFL Sportsbook Road Favorites vs. Miami

Big Ben and the Pittsburgh Steelers get a real test this week as NFL sportsbook road favorites when they take on the Miami Dolphins.

QB Ben Roethlisberger looked sensational last Sunday when carving up the Cleveland Browns’ secondary. Miami’s secondary is slightly better but Ben deserves props for throwing for 257 yards and 3 touchdowns in his first game back from a suspension.

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Even with Pitt playing so well it’s somewhat surprising that Miami, because they are coming off of a terrific victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, are underdogs in a home game. It’s the Fins versus the Steel Men in a classic AFC battle!

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Miami Dolphins

Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami, Florida
When: Oct. 24th, 2010 at 1:00 pm EST
TV: CBS
Radio: Sirius – 123 (PIT), 153 (MIA)

NFL Betting Lines

Pittsburgh Steelers -3 -110 O 40 ½ -110
Miami Dolphins +3 -110 U 40 ½ -110

The NFL sportsbook trends favor neither team in this game.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers are 4 and 1 ATS in their last 5 games on the road.
• The Miami Dolphins are 8 and 1 ATS in their last 9 games as an underdog.
• The Miami Dolphins are 5 and 0 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing 350 total yards or more in their previous game.

The Steelers are an exceptional team. They have the #6th ranked defense in the NFL and allow only 63.8 yards per game on the ground. That’s pretty phenomenal. What’s even more phenomenal is the fact that the Steelers are 4 and 1 against the spread.

They shouldn’t have an issue covering the 3-points in the NFL sportsbook versus Miami, right? I’m not so sure. Big Ben will be playing in only his second game of the season and the Miami Dolphins have proven that they can stand up to the big boys and play tough.

Miami’s D isn’t bad itself. It’s ranked 9th in the NFL and allows only 202 passing yards per game. That’s better than Pittsburgh’s D, which allows 233 passing yards per game.

More importantly for the Fins, the Steelers’ offense, although breathtakingly good at times, still relies heavily on the run. Big Ben’s fantastic performance versus the Browns doesn’t really count in this situation since the Browns’ secondary is one of the worst in the NFL.

But Miami just never gets the luck when they play at home. I do believe that Big Ben might have a bad game and the Fins might appear as if they are going to win, but the Steelers are too tough and too disciplined of a team not cover the spread in this game.

The problem that the Dolphins have is one of leadership. QB Chad Henne could turn into a very good signal-caller in this league but he’s a couple of year’s away.

Running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, although talented and capable, aren’t going to be able to make dent against that Pittsburgh front seven. When Henne has to throw, that’s when the Steelers are going to send LB James Harrison, if he doesn’t retire, and LB Lawrence Timmons.

Pittsburgh should be able to win this game by at least two field goals even if Big Ben has a bad game because RB Rashad Mendenhall is tearing it up in the backfield. Mendenhall will keep Miami defenders on their heels.

Picking the winning team against the spread in the NFL sportsbook comes down to a simple fact. Pittsburgh is a better team than the Miami Dolphins on both offense and defense.

They are also more disciplined than the ridiculous Dolphins who found a way to lose 14 to 41 to the New England Patriots even though Tom Brady didn’t throw a single touchdown pass.

I like Miami but I can’t go with my heart. I have to go with my head. The Steelers are the team to back in the NFL sportsbook.

NFL Betting Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers -3 -110

Week 7 betting odds are up in the NFL sportsbook!